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Thread: Adventures in case-making.

  1. #1

    Adventures in case-making.

    So I've decided to try to put some of my knowledge and opinions on watch manufacturing to the test. Starting with a case.

    The intention is to eventually produce all of the major, non-movement, components of a small dress watch. Case, crown, dial, hands, strap, and buckle/clasp. As equipment is aquired, I eventually plan to 'Nomos' a Peseux 7001 (cosmetic upper plate, bridge, cock replacement), in a different style. But that's getting a bit ahead of myself, the CNC is still in the design/prototype phase.

    So the case then. I'll be using outside contractors to lost-wax cast blanks of my design, then finish machine and polish them myself. I did some preliminary design work and sent the CAD files to a casting specialist in New York. They produced the wax, mold, and cast the part. This is something that I will eventually be doing myself as equipment allows.

    The prototype is in classical Tin-based bronze alloy (90% copper, 10% tin), and is to test sizing on the wrist, but more importantly to measure the difference between the cast part and the CAD dimensions due to shrinkage. It also identified a design error of having a separate bezel, which is too small and warped.

    Anyway, here are some designs and pics of the finished casting. More later.

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  2. #2
    MWC is that my watch's Avatar
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    looks very similar to a Russian 2209 case
    sharky
    one of the most original good guys their was never anything but a true friend "the daito to my shoto"
    rest easy good buddy
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  4. #3
    Member morningtundra's Avatar
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    What CAD package are you using for your 3d designs?

  5. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by morningtundra View Post
    What CAD package are you using for your 3d designs?
    I'm using an old mesh-based animation that can export into .stl .3ds etc... The modern analogue would be something like Blender.

  6. #5
    Looks cool

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    I'd buy it
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  8. #6
    El bot. geoffbot's Avatar
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    That's very cool.
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  10. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Seriously View Post
    Looks cool

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    I'd buy it
    I appreciate the thought but given my rather in-depth insight into the cost and quality so far, I would have to say that, no you probably wouldn't buy it . I am probably 10 prototypes away before I can hit Seiko 5 quality levels, and I'm probably double the price of a Seiko 5 on those 3 parts alone right now, and I haven't even started the machining yet.

    Oh and these pieces are pretty much scrap due to the 3 piece design not working with the thin bezel.

    I can send them to you for free, as is, if you want.

  11. #8
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    Next prototype coming up. For 7001.

    Learning from the last mistakes. This one will not have a separate bezel on such a thin case.

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  13. #9
    MWC is that my watch's Avatar
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    well a 2209 case has three parts the back plate the middle and the front plate the movement /dial loads through the front and is secured to the middle by retaining screws and then the front and back are popped on
    sharky
    one of the most original good guys their was never anything but a true friend "the daito to my shoto"
    rest easy good buddy
    https://gofund.me/eb610af1

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  15. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by is that my watch View Post
    well a 2209 case has three parts the back plate the middle and the front plate the movement /dial loads through the front and is secured to the middle by retaining screws and then the front and back are popped on
    My personal problem is keeping the bezel thin enough to match the rest of the case makes it subject to warping and deformation.

    I would prefer a separate bezel, but currently can't successfully make one.

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